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I do't see what the fuss is, unless Google is openly admitting their system is gamable? All they are doing is essentially attracting attention to the fact that their system is able to be controlled in some fashion.

Google is 'cracking down' on (some) paid links for one reason and one reason only --- because doing so will result in more revenue brought in through AdWords. The very notion that this has somehting to do with the quality of search results or abuse of the system would be downright laughable if it weren't so insulting to intelligence of anyone who isn't a sheep.

The whole thing about nofollow as it pertains to paid links is a clever ploy to create an arbitrary grounds justifying the double-standard that exists between paid links that are brokered by Google and those traded directly between site owners or brokered through a non-Google 3rd-party link broker.

Google knows that this recent crackdown is going to leave a lot of sites desparate for visitors, and that many of those sites will buy their traffic from Google once the free organic traffic is taken away from them.

Additionally, don't be surprised if this is just the first of many stiff-arm tactics deployed by Google in its effort to monopolize all forms of web advertising. Would you really be all that surprised if Google started punishing sites that bought paid listings in the Yahoo search results? This could be just as easily defined as promotional spam as any other form of link buying.

The fact is that Google could very easily modify their algorithms accordingly to negate the effects of paid links and spam without stripping tens of thousands of content providers of one of the most effective means of monetizing their sites available to them.

5rytty

I must say that after reading many different opinions about issue addressing Goggles enforcement of bad site rankings that have paid links I still cannot take any side. I do a lot of research on waste variety on topics trough Goggle and I have noticed that content that provides meaningful and thorough information is rarely if ever ranked high on list, I just got used to check further down the line, on page 5, 6, 7....20 and up. From that point of view it would be great if Goggle could once again make a difference and deliver meaningful content ranked high on their list. On the other hand I am perfectly aware of the fact that by dropping site rankings to all pages that have paid links Goggle is playing a very negative role of a 'Big Brother'. Firstly there are some sites which have valuable content aside from having paid links on them; secondly, more than few people already noticed, what about Googol’s Ad Sense and Goggle’s paid links-they don't seem to be a problem, which just spells injustice; thirdly what is the point in Goggle’s statements that paid links are demonized just so that pages which have true and valuable content will rank higher when that same Goggle just recently made deal in China to provide their services on huge Chinese market but under condition to restrict their content only to fit Chinese government approved view of the world – where is the fight for true content equals high ranking there? Since this is a complex issue I am not jet able to take side in the pros and cons argument about Goggle page ranking issue. I am only thinking that there must bee another, probably better solution. Why not per instance broaden Goggle search options a bit; separating pages with paid links and pages with no paid links to two different categories presented side by side...Just a suggestion. I am certain that Goggle employees can come with adequate solution to this problem. Solution that will not enforce any hard rules to already existing sites while at a same time providing Goggle search users with valuable information from pages with paid links as well as from pages without paid links.

Google wants to rule the world and that's very dangerous. They want to dictate how people run their business or what they display on their sites. They shouldn't treat my site different because I put advertising with outside links on my site.

I shifted all my hate from Microsoft to Google a while ago. I really would like to see Microsoft or Yahoo gain more ground in the SE arena. I don't even use Adwords anymore. To sell a dinner fork, I have to rewrite my site completely to their liking or pay $5/click because keywords get inactivated. Even though my content is unique, users can't find my site in the organic results. Instead Google displays irrelevant content from Wiki, and other big sites. Search results are horrible.

It is time for another engine to do some good harm to Google so they learn. I hope the rumors of American Idol guys getting into the game are true. That'd be Google's funeral.

I hate Google with a passion. You Google cult followers, pull your heads out of the sand and fight back before this monster eats you! Google is the new Microsoft! This ain't no more that lovely story of two broke programmer kids taking on the world from their UNIv. computer lab (I hope I got the right story here). Google already owns you. They are evil. They know even the time you go to the bathroom! They know more about your than yourself! Those of you that are up today and happy, tomorrow you can be next.

Toto

I think it appropriate that Google withdraw support for paid links. Surely it is fairer on everyone to have pages listed by content (good or bad) rather than some obscure way of using links that are generally meaningless to the content of the site.

Like us, if you sell widgets, it is better to get customers who are interested in widgets rather that utilities, banks et al.

So, hooray for Google getting rid of paid links and the place they occupy in the listings.

What do I think about paid linking? I have mixed feelings.

On one hand, I own a small company and can not afford to compete with larger competitors regarding link-buying.

On the other hand, link buying cost less than Google PPC. And Google gets all the PPC cash.

I think Google is just doing what they are entitled to, protecting their franchise. For that, and as a stock holder, I say kudos.

Google waits till it gets at least a month of revenue then pulls thier adds off your website for some stated reason or another.
You will not be paid any of your link ad money as they state...."because of invalid clicks, we are sending the money back to advertisers: BULL!
They get a months worth of free advertising.Google does it to many many people. The money would add up quickly
for them.

I agree boycott Google and use another click company

Search Engines should not have paid links or keywords. They were originally meant for people to use in finding information on the internet. Now the only thing you can find by using search engines is sites that pay big money to get up in your face. That completely elininates sites that do not sell products and cannot afford to pay huge sums to the search engines to get listed. The search engines eliminate sites that cannot pay for position or keywords. We need a search engine that list sites by using keywords and in alphebic order that does not pay to be listed. Search engines have rendered themselves worthless.

I refuse to watch yet another "suck up to Matt Cutts" video.

pour tous les internautes qui parlent français et mettent systematiquement à la poubelle les messages en anglais (ou autres langues) pour se proteger des spams, nous aimerions recevoir les differentes nouvelles de google dans notre langue natale
merci
jo

Hi,

I started from nowhere just over 18 months ago with own web design business. I'm not a designer but VERY passionate about the NET and the mess its in with a majority of messy sites designed by people who know how to carry a bucket but couldn't for the life of them tell you whats in it. Although paid links can generate business and if used well can be profitable I find that by getting my designers to create user friendly sites that still have a bespoke feel (So cut out the crap)and by sensible wording my so far up to 150 clients get phenominal results. I'd say 95% are page 1 Google (mostly number 1) under relevant search terms to their industry. We have now got the university of cumbria (UK) interested in our approach to the net. In short paid links are unnecessary if you approach things logically, though i wouldn't rule them out all together. Thats my thought on this anyway.

Page Rank... Page Rank... Page Rank...

Does a high page rank ensure a good placement on Google? Nope... Heck I'm willing to bet that the only folk that really care about PR are the webmasters that have been trying to game the system.

The average home user has no idea or care for those little green pixels (that's if they have actually installed the tool bar!).

I've yet to see a website that has had traffic affected by it's PR. So really all this is doing is preventing others from selling links - so really it's a marketing ploy by Google to remain the number one online marketing company.

Google's product is search results that give the searcher the information that is desired.

While from a "what about me" position it may seem that because buying links in the past was rewarded with higher rankings in Google the economics of buying links was justified. If buying links is no longer economic without the added bonus of higher SE rankings then don't buy them. Don't whine that you can't influence the SE results by buying links anymore. That is just being lazy.

I think that the average searcher would like to see that the highest SE results are not a function of who paid the most but which result gives the best information that he/she is looking for.

I run a a very legitimate business that has paid links, because I run local community websites, and small businesses in the towns want good advertising. I don't charge a lot, but provide a very good service enabling the small guy to be found on search engines. Google's ban has been bad on all of us. Now when you search for our small towns really stupid sites created by big businesses who have never even been to town show up first.

It was Google who invented the link thing in the first place. Instead of banning paid links, they should just stop counting incoming links as important. It's a very rediculous "vote" to have for a website. Websites should be ranked on content.

I hope google goes down big for this, and the more reliable search engines get a chance at marketing the web.

Google is not the only one in the arena but they lead the list.
somwhere in the internet I have seen a move about google that explains the exact point of google success, "they bended the web designers to build sites the google way".
THAT I think is wrong, I have built a site that is not google friendly, and to be listed I need back links as air and water to, but I am glad that I have built the site MY WAY (for those who want to visit my site, is in hebrew, but you can understand the idea concept- one page no clicks almost no words and friendly (I beleive) to the non savvy web surfer.
We gave google the power by building sites their way, and that's way they succseed, so we don't need to complain know about the Consequences of OUR behavior.
In one sentence I do no support paid links or ring-links

There was fear mongering going on all summer about the "big scary Google" and how potential changes to their algorithm was going to impact some websites. In my case, my PR actually increased as I've been carrying out a natural linking strategy with no paid links. The changes Google made helps the little guys like me; it evens out the playing field. Besides, if Google's behaviour is being seen by many as being so bad, why are so many SE's emulating them?

Paid links are just another way to keep power in the hands of those with money. I find it a bit hypocritical of google, a huge company with a lot of financial interest in advertising and the edge being given to those with budgets to buy better rankings. On the other hand, as a webmaster with no budget and a big mission and from a position of personal self interest, I am glad google is opposing paid links as a way to build page rank.

I have worked very hard to get a PR5 and good placement for my search terms on the major search engines. I am in favor of anything that levels the playing field for the little guy. I am on a mission to combat type 2 diabetes. I have better information all in one place than is offered by the major money players. With out the level playing field of the internet there is no way someone like me could be making a difference against the big drug companies and organized medicine. Yet, I have a very competitive term "diabetic diet" placing in the pop ten for the major search engines.

From a selfish self-interest point of view, I hope they continue to penalize paid links and continue to make it possible for the little guy to compete. When I say little guy I could not get much smaller. I run my sites out of a 100% disabled VA pension. I have no financial backers. I am a virtual unknown and I am in a small town on an isolated island in Canada, yet I am getting 30,000 unique visitors to my site and that is growing each month. Thank god for the democracy of the internet.

I believe Google should NOT in any way interfere with people's links or small businesses, much less CHARGE them for them.
They offer a great product, but should not use their on-line strength to "control" the internet users. Bad image!

Ron Turcot

Personally, I like searching from Google. I like some of the features Google offers. Google AdSense might or might not help me earn some money to help maintain my web site. Putting AdSense ads on my website might be a resource for some visitors and it adds a little more 'fullness' to my site. If I don't like AdSense in the future, it will only take a couple minutes to remove it. They made setup easy enough and it's clean.
Thanks Google.

I have been a webmaster since forever and I remember pre-Google we were all very free and easy with links. Then Google came along and we all suddenly realized that we were leaking value with every link we gave out. I know I went through and deleted all the "extra" links from my site at that time.

So, Google has created a scarcity of link love and now they don't even want you to be allowed to buy it. That sucks in my opinion!! Big time.

I have read your newsletter for years BTW and really appreciate it.

Thank you Google to saying NO to paid links. As a small business owner I cannot afford to engage a SEO or pay for links, pay for ads etc. I have devoted endless unpaid hours, days, months, years to researching and implementing SEO techniques and links to my website to get me on Google's Page 1. It's the one area where I feel as a small business with limited resources I can compete in a fair and honest marketplace and be genuinely rewarded for my efforts.
Why should we small businesses have to compete YET AGAIN with big companies who always "buy" their way to the top????
NO! NO! NO!

I think it is right of Google to "ignore" these paid links, not everyone can afford to pay $$$$$ to buy links just to boost their website ranking. To do so gives those with $$$$ an unfair advantage. A site should be judged on it's merits and content, not the amount of links. I have never paid for links and do not intend to!

I may not be the sharpest tool in the toolbox but I don't know much about paid links. I use a link exchange service for my website and am wondering what Google's take on that is. Any comments?

I think it's great that Google is cracking down on paid links. Someone's got to. Speaking as a small business owner, it's hard enough getting a website to the point being viewed as important by Google without being trampled into the dust by companies who can just afford to pay for thousands of links and get there 10 times faster (and stay there).

For once, there should be a way to even the playing field between small businesses with small budgets and companies who choose to throw money at all of their issues. I think Google is doing just that! Let the big boys actually put some working into something just like the rest of us for a change. Building credibility should take effort and time. Google, IMHO, is just keeping to the natural order of things!

So Google seems to dominate the search platform. So what? They also provide tons a great tools for webmasters to build and grow their websites and businesses, and most all of them for FREE! It would be another issue entirely if Google did nothing to give back to those of us who work hard to create good websites. But as long as they're providing so many great tools and delivering 90% of the traffic that comes to my site, they can dominate whatever they want!